SINGAPORE, July 10: Undeterred by the fulminations of Phnom Penh's current strongman Hun Sen warning the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) against ``interfering in Cambodia's internal affairs'', the regional grouping has decided to ``indefinitely'' defer the granting of membership to the strife-torn South-East Asian country.

The decision was taken today at an emergency meeting of Asean foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur. The entry of Myanmar and Laos will, however, go ahead as scheduled at the forthcoming Asean summit in the Malaysian capital on July 24, officials announced.

With this decision, Asean has effectively turned the tables on Hun Sen, who had threatened a little earlier in the day that if the regional forum passed strictures on his regime, Cambodia would ``decide not to join.'' The consensus on Cambodia underlined ``the seriousness of purpose and credibility'' of the regional grouping, pointed out Singapore's foreign minister S Jayakumar.

Asean countries have considerable financial interests in Cambodia. Malaysia has about 30 projects worth over a billion US dollars. Singapore has invested over US $300 million and is the country's largest trading partner. Thai companies too have substantive investments in Cambodia.

Of course, the postponement of Cambodia's entry into Asean on account of the incessant factional fighting within the country does not mean a denial of eventual membership. As Malaysia's foreign minister Abdullah Ahmad Badawi pointed out yesterday, it was a question of timing.

``Let us not be confused between the question of timing and membership,'' he had said, adding that Asean would be ready to defer Cambodia's scheduled admission on July 23 if the ministers reached a consensus today.

Hun Sen's warning to Asean not to intervene in Cambodia's domestic crisis was countered by Indonesian Foreign Minister Ali Alatas, who pointed out that the consensus decision ``is not meant to interfere in the internal affairs of Cambodia because we in Asean uphold it (non-interference) strictly.''

Asean on Tuesday called for an immediate ceasefire in Cambodia and urged the country's feuding prime ministers to settle their differences peacefully. ``Asean calls for an immediate ceasefire,'' said a joint statement released by the Malaysian government, current chairman of the seven-nation grouping, after consultations with member states.

``Asean further calls on the two co-prime ministers, first prime minister Prince Norodom Ranariddh, and second prime minister Hun Sen, to resolve their differences peacefully.''

Although fighting around the country by forces owing allegiance to Hun Sen and Prince Ranariddh which has left at least 16 dead and more than 80 injured appeared to have lulled yesterday, the situation was widely perceived to be extremely tense.

Prince Ranariddh has urged international rejection of a Phnom Penh government created by a coup d'etat and withdrawal of support for his country until a legitimate government returns to power.

The first prime minister said he was prepared for civil war if necessary and was confident he could overthrow rival Hun Sen.Meanwhile most Asean countries have evacuated their citizens in special flights from Phnom Penh. Members of the royal family too have sought refuge in neighbouring nations.

The Australian government announced today it was sending five C-130 transport planes to begin the evacuation of up to 600 Australians from the country. The airlift, to begin tomorrow, will also take out citizens of several other countries under consular agreements. The US, Germany and Britain have also asked Australia to fly out some of their nationals.

Copyright © 1997 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.